What are the common issues regarding the use of rail clips?

Several typical issues arise during the practical use of rail clips that directly affect the stability and safety of the track system.

The most common problem is fatigue fracture. After enduring long-term cyclic loads from trains, microscopic cracks initiate and gradually propagate in the metal material due to repeated stress, ultimately leading to brittle fracture. Such fractures mostly occur at the bending points where stress is most concentrated on the clip, and immediate loss of rail restraint follows once fracture happens.

Related to this is the phenomenon of stress relaxation, where the clip's elasticity gradually diminishes due to prolonged high stress, resulting in decreased clamping force and subsequently triggering a chain reaction including rail loosening and gauge variation.

Corrosion issues are particularly prominent in harsh environments such as damp or saline-alkali areas. Surface rust not only reduces the effective cross-sectional area of the clip but also creates stress concentration points that accelerate the generation of fatigue cracks. Improper practices during installation also pose serious risks, for instance, using non-professional tools leading to incorrect torque-excessive torque can push the clip beyond its elastic limit causing internal damage, while insufficient torque fails to establish effective restraint.

Furthermore, system compatibility cannot be overlooked. Mismatches between the rail clip and the rail foot profile, baseplate dimensions, or insulation components cause uneven stress distribution, significantly shortening its service life.

GNEE RAIL recommends effectively preventing these issues by selecting high-quality spring steel materials, standardizing installation procedures, conducting regular inspections and maintenance, and ensuring system component compatibility.

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